Cheap Fax/CallerID/Voicemail device?

[Noozer]

Just wondering... since the highspeed dialup modem is going the way of the
dodo, have there been any non-modem devices that do voicemail, caller ID and
faxing?

I've no use for the data side of a fax/voice modem.

 

[kony]

Just wondering... since the highspeed dialup modem is going the way of the
dodo, have there been any non-modem devices that do voicemail, caller ID and
faxing?

They'd still be called modems, as products, so it's kinda
hard to call them non-modem.

I've no use for the data side of a fax/voice modem.

That data side is what a fax is. Being able to use it for
dial-up internet is no loss, just another thing it can do
given the basic requirements for voice or fax and the modern
technology do go faster than fax too.

If you found some device that was artifically limited to
only being able to do voice and fax, it would just cost more
for no benefit. Why would anyone buy it? Lack of sales
would drive up the per unit cost even more.

If you want to deliberately limit your modem to not be able
to do dial-up internet you should remove the dial-up adapter
as a networking device. Then again, unless you give the
system some phone number to call an ISP, it's kinda hard for
it to do it anyway...

 

[Noozer]

They'd still be called modems, as products, so it's kinda
hard to call them non-modem.

But, without the need for the high speed data mode, they could be built a
fair bit cheaper. At least I think so.

 

[CBFalconer]

Just wondering... since the highspeed dialup modem is going the
way of the dodo, have there been any non-modem devices that do
voicemail, caller ID and faxing?

Many parts of the world have no other access. In fact, some of
them are limited to 28.8k or so. The dodo is alive.

--
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the broken "Reply" link at the bottom of the article. Click on
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"Reply" at the bottom of the article headers." - Keith Thompson
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Also see <http://www.safalra.com/special/googlegroupsreply/>

 

[kony]

But, without the need for the high speed data mode, they could be built a
fair bit cheaper. At least I think so.

Cheaper than what? They're about $8, how low can they get?

It's no cheaper because they still have to have the basic
parts on the card, have already long ago done the work. It
will cost more for them to do it all over again just to
remove features that aren't hurting anything by being there.

 

[Noozer]

Cheaper than what? They're about $8, how low can they get?

It's no cheaper because they still have to have the basic
parts on the card, have already long ago done the work. It
will cost more for them to do it all over again just to
remove features that aren't hurting anything by being there.

I'm hoping for a cheap, small, USB dongle... Most external modems are still
4"x6" boxes with status lights, etc. designed first for data use, with
voice/fax as secondary features.

 

[kony]

I'm hoping for a cheap, small, USB dongle... Most external modems are still
4"x6" boxes with status lights, etc. designed first for data use, with
voice/fax as secondary features.

Well there are some that are cheap (considering how few they
sell, it'll be back to that per-unit
design/manufacturing/debugging/marketing etc cost I
mentioned previously),


http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=222225
http://www.pcdirect.com/product.asp?Sku=MOUSR5633A&PID=2

Even Wal-Mart has 'em but I don't know if this one has voice
(many don't)
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/prod...ct_id=4765186&sourceid=0100000030660804302498

.... or good ole 'egg,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000400018+1126509663&Subcategory=18

 

[JohnS]

Strangely enough since the rebate sales a few years ago where they had
tons of free stuff every weekend are over the non-sale price of a
modem is pretty gross. I used to be bored about the free modems and
keyboards and CDRs every week at several stores years ago.

However if you look around there are clearances on modems. Office max
has had them for a while and I looked it recently and it was $2 for a
winmodem. Since the pathetically premature PCI express came out in
which there are no widely available useful modem/sound/tv tuner cards
for that slot --- Im limited to 3 PCI slots on my boards like many
others and so I bought an external modem cause I like the faxing
function.

The creative external was on clearance at many places and I saw an
online place that had refurbs for 10-15 bucks. I got one for 15 bucks
a returned one at Odepot 7 months or so ago.